Robson’s Last Call

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Ivor Robson, the legendary Open Championship starter, is calling it quits after 41 years of introducing every golfer on the first tee.

Robson has called every Open since he in 1975 at Carnoustie. Interestingly, that Open was also the first for Tom Watson, who won. Watson is also retiring this year.

Robson, a mild-mannered Scot who lives on the English border, has been the pro at the Moffat Golf Club in Dumfriesshire since 1963, where he is an honourary member. (He does not plan to retire from that job.)

His distinctive vocal sound – a high-pitched, lyrical voice that goes up at the end when says a name – makes his one of the most recognizable voices in the world of golf.

After all these years, Robson said no particular Open memory sticks out more than another.

“They’re all happy memories. It’s been 41 Opens and each one is different but they are all very happy,” he said during an intimate chat.

This year, the big story so far has been the weather: a three-hour rain delay Friday, and Saturday play resumed only late in the evening due to extreme winds.

“We had that at Royal Lytham [in 1988],” Robson said. “We had to suspend play on the Saturday and it went on to the Monday. That’s when Seve [Ballesteros] won.”

Robson has also been the starter at all the Ryder Cups played in Europe since 1981, and is currently the official starter for the European Tour. He says he won’t do these anymore either; he is completely retiring from them all at the end of this year.

Robson didn’t do anything special to get the Open job — he just applied. They must have liked him, because he’s been invited back every year since.

“The chap who used to do it was retiring. I heard about it and thought, well, I could do that, and here we are today,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate. It’s a great honour.”

In case you were wondering, he only makes small talk with the players if they want to — and not all do.

“We haven’t got much time because you have to give them their cards with the local rules and anything that they need to know. And get them off on time.”

And if you wondered how he pronounces all the names correctly, particularly those of the tongue-twister variety, you may be surprised to learn that no research or confirmations are done in advance of the tournament.

“I’m fortunate enough to have announced a lot of these players over the years so I know how they like their name announced,” Robson said. For first-time players he asks them how they like it announced on the first tee, because he doesn’t see them before.

Asked if he had any advice to give his successor, he declined.

“I’ll leave it to the powers that be and keep quiet,” Robson said with a smile.

As for whether he will keep coming to the Open as a spectator or in another role that’s yet to be determined. He’s too busy keeping on top of things here at St. Andrews.

“I haven’t even given that a thought yet,” he said. “It’s a way in the distance. Let’s get this one over first.”